Down the ballot: Cohen beats Tinker

— The "racially charged Democratic primary [in Memphis, TN] ended with an incumbent congressman trouncing the opponent who ran an ad linking him to the Ku Klux Klan. Unofficial results showed Democrat Steve Cohen with 79 percent of the vote to 19 percent for Nikki Tinker, a black corporate lawyer who was his chief opponent in the district that covers Memphis, with all precincts reporting. Cohen is the first white congressman from Memphis in more than three decades and one of only two white congressmen representing a majority black district."

Also in Tennessee, freshman incumbent Rep. David Davis (R) lost to Johnson City Mayor Phil Roe by about 500 votes last night. "Being linked to 'big oil' turned into a big problem for [Davis] ..., who became the first congressman from that state to lose in a primary in more than four decades." In 2006, Davis eked out a victory over Richard Venable, Richard Roberts and Roe by a 22%-21%-18%-17% margin, respectively.